Local dog owners reminded of new microchip laws

NORTH Solihull residents are being reminded that from now on they could face fines of up to £500 if their dog isn't microchipped.
New laws, which came into force yesterday, require all owners to have their canines chipped by the time they are eight weeks old.
The regulations are designed to make it easier for the authorities to find out who lost or stray animal belong to, with a chip the size of a grain of rice fitted just beneath the skin.
Councils or dog shelters are able to scan the device's unique 15 digit code to trace the owner.
It is currently estimated that around one in eight of all the UK's dogs (a million mutts in total) haven't been chipped.
Certain charities, including the Dogs Trust, and some local authorities will have a chip fitted for free.

Case study:
In 2011, the national press reported on a case from Chelmsley Wood in which an animal was returned to its owner five years after going missing.
The Staffordshire bull terrier, named T-Bone, had disappeared from outside Pat Oates' home and after a fruitless search the family had given up home of finding the animal.
However, the dog was eventually discovered on board a No 37 bus and when the driver took the animal to 608 Vets in Solihull, they were able to check the microchip.